Everything you need to know about Atlanta United's offseason

How we got here.

Feb 19, 2024

The first matchweek of the 2024 MLS season is finally upon us. We know our readership is full of diehard supporters, but not everyone is able to follow every piece of news between the end of last season and the opening kick of a new campaign. Something I like to do before every season is recap the timeline of the offseason and illustrate exactly how the front office went about their business of reshaping the roster.

Understandably, some of you may already know all of the information that follows, and that’s fine. Later this week I’ll be going through the offseason moves and grading how Garth Lagerwey, Carlos Bocanegra, and the rest of the team did in trying to get this team back to contending for MLS Cup. This is simply for the larger audience who don’t have 25 Google alerts and 13 Twitter lists set up for every piece of transfer news regarding Atlanta United.

So, this is how we got from the end of 2023 to the first matchweek of 2024.

Following the playoff exit at the hands of eventual MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew, the Five Stripes announced their end-of-season roster decisions that included declining the option on five players. Those players were: Machop Chol, Jackson Conway, Clément Diop, Justin Garces and Efrain Morales
In addition, six players were out of contract: Ozzie Alonso, Miguel Berry, Miles Robinson, Matheus Rossetto, Amar Sejdic and Quentin Westberg
Xande Silva and Juanjo Purata would also have their loans expire at the end of 2023, while Luke Brennan, Adyn Torres, and Nick Firmino would officially become first-team players.

This is how the roster shaped up following the moves:

2024 Atlanta United roster (as of Nov. 17, 2023)
Goalkeepers (1): Brad Guzan
Defenders (6): Luis Abram, Noah Cobb, Ronald Hernández, Brooks Lennon, Aiden McFadden, Caleb Wiley
Midfielders (11): Thiago Almada, Derrick Etienne Jr., Nick Firmino, Ajani Fortune, Franco Ibarra, Saba Lobjanidze, Edwin Mosquera, Tristan Muyumba, Santiago Sosa, Adyn Torres, Tyler Wolff
Forwards (4): Luke Brennan, Erik Centeno, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Jamal Thiaré

Of the players who were detached from the club following the season, the only ones who would reach a deal to return were Xande Silva, Efrain Morales, and Quentin Westberg.

Xande Silva’s transfer option was exercised as he joined the club on a permanent deal from Dijon. He signed a two-year contract through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026.
Morales agreed to a one-year contract through the 2024 season, with an option for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Westberg returned on a one-year contract.

While many familiar names left the club, none were more high-profile than Miles Robinson. The two-time MLS Best XI defender decided against accepting Atlanta’s multi-year, max TAM contract offer to sign with FC Cincinnati via free agency.

Atlanta United finally agreed to terms with free agent goalkeeper Josh Cohen. He signed a two-year contract through 2025, with an option for 2026.
In a bit of SuperDraft shenanigans, the club announced a Homegrown Player deal for Mac Hermann Trophy finalist Garrison Tubbs, only to trade him to D.C. United a few days later in exchange for $125,000 in 2024 GAM and up to $150,000 in additional GAM if incentives are reached.
Atlanta selected veteran defender Derrick Williams with the No. 1 pick in Stage Two of the Re-Entry Draft and eventually signed a contract through 2025, with an option for 2026.
Atlanta then added legendary MLS midfielder Dax McCarty added via free agency. He signed a one-year deal, with an option for 2025.
In an effort to replace the void left by Miles Robinson along the backline, the club signed Norway international Stian Gregersen from Bordeaux. He is a 28-year-old centerback standing 6 foot, 4 inches tall with the ability to distribute out of the back. He is signed through the 2027 season, with an option for 2028.
The final big incoming move of the winter saw Poland international Bartosz Slisz join from Legia Warsaw. The 24-year-old holding midfielder signed a five-year contract through the 2028 season.
To make room in the midfield, the club loaned out both Franco Ibarra (Rosario Central) and Santiago Sosa (Racing Club). Carlos Bocanegra confirmed that both players will still occupy U-22 initiative slots despite their loans.
16-year-old forward Ashton Gordon will join the first-team in 2025 as a Homegrown Player upon signing for ATL UTD 2 for 2024.

Departures: Machop Chol, Jackson Conway, Clément Diop, Justin Garces, Ozzie Alonso, Miguel Berry, Miles Robinson, Matheus Rossetto, Amar Sejdic, Juanjo Purata, Franco Ibarra (Loan), Santiago Sosa (Loan)

Arrivals: Luke Brennan, Adyn Torres, Nick Firmino, Josh Cohen, Derrick Williams, Dax McCarty, Stian Gregersen, Bartosz Slisz

Atlanta United roster (as of Feb. 19, 2024)
Goalkeepers (3): Josh Cohen, Brad Guzan, Quentin Westberg 
Defenders (9): Luis Abram, Noah Cobb, Stian Gregersen, Ronald Hernández, Brooks Lennon, Aiden McFadden, Efraín Morales, Caleb Wiley, Derrick Williams
Midfielders (11): Thiago Almada, Derrick Etienne Jr., Nick Firmino, Ajani Fortune, Saba Lobjanidze, Dax McCarty, Edwin Mosquera, Tristan Muyumba, Bartosz, Slisz, Adyn Torres, Tyler Wolff
Forwards (5): Luke Brennan, Erik Centeno, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Xande Silva, Jamal Thiaré   
Loaned Out for 2024 season: Franco Ibarra (Rosario Central), Santiago Sosa (Racing Club)